This is one of the handful of films that paired an off-screen married couple, the legendary Peter O'Toole and the should be legend Sian Phillips. It is a paring very similar in nature to Bogart and Hepburn in "The African Queen", transferring the action to the Orinoco River in Venezuela. Both films are set during World War II and deal with a grizzled anti-hero who seeks destroy the Nazis. The difference is that Bogart and Hepburn teamed together to do so without orders in a mission that aided the war effort, and here, it's O'Toole with the help of Philippe Noiret to get revenge on German boat captain Horst Janson for destroying O'Toole's merchant marine boat regardless of the fact that towards the end, war has been declared to be over.
A hard working doctor risking her own life working with the natives, Phillips helps O'Toole mend, does her best to protect the locals when the Nazis invade, and continues to be an eye witness to his growing determination for revenge, obviously a defender of human life rather than encouraging the taking of it regardless of the fact that the Germans are enemies.
Watching her going out of her way to make sure that the injured are removed from buildings that the Germans are targeting and going out of her way to continue to ensure that O'Toole remains strong isn't as easy an acting job as it appears to be for the British stage legend. Phillips is a saint-like presence, quiet but strong, and fascinating to watch. She's as far from her legendary TV role of the empress Livia from "I Claudius" as you could imagine her to be, and far more important to the story than my plot description tells.
Horst Janson, the handsome German ship captain, is very good in a difficult role that doesn't get him any sympathy, and Philippe Noiret as the Frenchman who lives near the hospital that Phillips runs is both funny and touching. The highlight of the film is the scene where O'Toole gets the old plane to work, and flies over the surrounding area with the natives and Phillips transfixed to his every move, eventually going out of his way to attack the Germans. This is a much better film than I expected, very cinematic and beautifully made. A few slow moments here and there, but I was glued to the screen regardless.
A hard working doctor risking her own life working with the natives, Phillips helps O'Toole mend, does her best to protect the locals when the Nazis invade, and continues to be an eye witness to his growing determination for revenge, obviously a defender of human life rather than encouraging the taking of it regardless of the fact that the Germans are enemies.
Watching her going out of her way to make sure that the injured are removed from buildings that the Germans are targeting and going out of her way to continue to ensure that O'Toole remains strong isn't as easy an acting job as it appears to be for the British stage legend. Phillips is a saint-like presence, quiet but strong, and fascinating to watch. She's as far from her legendary TV role of the empress Livia from "I Claudius" as you could imagine her to be, and far more important to the story than my plot description tells.
Horst Janson, the handsome German ship captain, is very good in a difficult role that doesn't get him any sympathy, and Philippe Noiret as the Frenchman who lives near the hospital that Phillips runs is both funny and touching. The highlight of the film is the scene where O'Toole gets the old plane to work, and flies over the surrounding area with the natives and Phillips transfixed to his every move, eventually going out of his way to attack the Germans. This is a much better film than I expected, very cinematic and beautifully made. A few slow moments here and there, but I was glued to the screen regardless.